UK’s Labour set for heavy losses in elections as Reform makes early gains

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is bracing for heavy defeats in local elections , with Reform UK poised to make gains across the country, according to early results. Labour’s woes were already evident as the country woke up on Friday morning, with the governing party losing more than 258 seats and Nigel Farage’s populist party Reform UK gaining 382 seats by 9am local time (08:00 GMT). Recommended Stories list of 1 item end of list The election is seen as a key test of Starmer’s leadership , with Labour trailing behind Reform UK in opinion polls in recent months. In response to the early results, Starmer said he would take responsibility for the outcome but indicated that he would not step down. “Days like ⁠this don’t weaken my resolve ⁠to deliver the change ⁠that ⁠I promised,” Starmer was quoted by ‌GB News as saying. “The results are tough, they are very tough, and there’s no sugarcoating it,” he said during a speech in West London on Friday morning. “We have lost brilliant Labour representatives across the country, these are people who put so much into their communities, so much into our party,” he added. “And that hurts, and it should hurt, and I take responsibility.” ‘Red Wall’ losses Some of Labour’s biggest losses have been in the so-called “Red Wall’ strongholds, a belt of former industrial areas spanning the north of England that have traditionally voted for the centre-left party, where many of Starmer’s ministers hold seats. …